Tech Edge: Mobile Learning in the Classroom Podcasts
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Technology (Tech) Education in Digital and Global Environments (EDGE) Youtube channel provides over 300 technology information videos, reviewing various iPad apps. Guy Trainin (@tgite) host and producer of these videos, reviews apps that can be utilized for all grade levels and content areas. Some of the apps he discusses cost two or three dollars, but the majority are free. I would recommend watching newer Tech EDGE videos. Some of the older videos include apps that are no longer available for download. The video at right is one of my favorites. In it, Trainin highlights three free Horis International Limited geometry iPad apps, Pythagorea: Geometry on Square Grid, Pythagorea 60˚, and XSection. |
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With Pythagorea: Geometry on Square Grid, users construct lines and shapes given grid lines and points of intersection. There are 26 topics, including things such as length and distance, parallels, squares, circles, point symmetry, angles, and tangents. A series of problems are given. The first few problems are fairly basic, but they get trickier as the player advances. There were a few problems that even stumped me!
This app would be great for introducing new topics in a geometry classroom. I'm a firm believer in hands-on learning, and this app is an awesome, interactive, and incredibly simple way to learn about geometry. I especially love that it defines various geometric terms, like node. This app may also be great for advanced middle school students. |
Pythagorea 60˚ is very similar to Pythagorea: Geometry on Square Grid. The only true difference between the apps is that Pythagorea 60˚ uses a graph of equilateral (60˚) triangles instead of squares. The apps contain the same topics and are set up the same way.
The triangle graph does make the problems a bit harder, but this app is still very easy to use. There are easy in-app instructions explaining how to answer the given problems. Because these problems are a bit harder, I would recommend this app for high school freshmen, sophomores, or juniors that are currently taking geometry. |
XSection is different from Pythagorea: Geometry on Square Grid and Pythagorea 60˚ in that players construct three dimensional shapes, lines, projections, etcetera. There are three sections: basics, tutorials, and practice. Unlike the other two apps, each topic has to be completed before the next one can be opened. The "basics" sections includes cubes, prisms, pyramids, space diagonals, and so on. The "tutorial" section addresses projections and traces. The "practice" section involves each of the previous topics.
This app is very advanced. I'm currently taking a 570 level math course over geometry theorems and proofs and I had trouble figuring out many of the problems. I would recommend letting advanced high school students use it at their discretion to prepare for college topics. |